Hollywood Bowl

I'm more used to seeing concerts at smaller venues like the Troubadour, Wiltern, Glass House. But if you have to see a large venue show, it's hard to beat the Hollywood Bowl. Sound is amazing, and you can relax and watch the show under the stars. However there are a few drawbacks. There's a curfew 11pm so bands usually cut their sets. Parking is expensive and horrible to get out of after the show. I HIGHLY recommend you go to the Hollywood Bowl website and check out the other transportation options to avoid parking hassles. Last time, I drove to the LA Zoo and took a $3 shuttle to the bowl. Lastly, I never noticed this until I saw U2 at Staples Center, but the seats aren't sloped steep enough. When I saw NIN there, the guys in front of me were blocking my view. At Staples Center, the seats were at such a steep incline that the seats in front of you were way lower so you don't get people blocking your view. more

Rolling Stones, all the way. I saw them at the Hollywood Bowl, which is my favorite place in L.A to see a big concert. The Stones still sounded good, too. Rough, but they made you want to move. The sound was excellent, and the venue is beautiful. The bandshell is attractive and you can't beat the location, right in the Hollywood Hills, one of a small handful of natural ampitheaters in the US. No disrepect to the Beatles, a great band, but they have been done for 35 years, and Paul McCartney is pretty corny left to his own devices. I love Ringo, but what can you say? The guy starred in Caveman. more

As much as I love this venue I most start off with a warning. The traffic around the Hollywood bowl is miserable. The best bet is to take the metro link to Hollywood and Highland and hike the rest of the way. Otherwise you’ll either pay a lot for valet parking or be stuck in traffic for an hour. Otherwise the amphitheater is beautiful! You have a stunning view of the hills around and the fresh night air. You get to watch the sun set. The benches are made of wood and not the most comfortable in the world but the experience is totally worth it. more

Why "The Best Summer Venue In Los Angeles!" Well, simply, where else are you offered the incredible quality of sound of the Los Angeles Philarmonic set in front of a beautiful back-drop, and at the extremely low starting price of a dollar?! That's right, tickets for the back rows of the Hollywood Bowl begin at a dollar. For just one buck you get to hear one of the nation's - the world's greatest orchestras perform music from many greats such as Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, Mendelsohn, Hayden, and many more. The line-up for the Hollywood Bowl summer events also includes contemporary acts. This past season they had Brian Wilson. The year before that Phoenix performed along with Sondre Lerche. Sigur Ros has also performed. The Dave Brubeck Quartet with The Ramsey Lewis Trio. Opera Divas and Tenors. Many of the greatest performers in music perform at the Hollywood Bowl, and admission to most shows begins at just one dollar. Some shows are a steeper ... ready for it ... three dollars, but these events include great extra feeatures such as their grand fireworks show on July Fourth. They also often do Movie Nights where great Hollywood film composers visit to conduct their great compositions in front of a great projection of film clips. There are also the occasionaly sing-a-long film nights. Two years ago, there was a complete production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream along with the Los Angeles Philarmonic performing the work of Mendelsohn. Also, a great feature of the Hollywood Bowl is the setting; patrons are sitting in front of a great view of the Hollywood Hills - including the Hollywood Sign. Performances begin and run mainly through sunset adding a nice visual feature. Do bring a blanket or a jacket, because it will get cold. The other great bonus is that the Bowl welcomes and in fact encourages guests to bring their own picnic baskets for food and wine. Bring some food, eat, listen to great music, and enjoy. Also, if parking is too much of a hassel, the Hollywood Bowl offers several shuttles for two dollars from several set Park-And-Go lots located around Los Angeles. Definately look into spending next summer at the Hollywood Bowl. more

I have always loved going to the hollywood bowl for different concerts. You can picnic on the lawn and enjoy the music all evening. The parking can be hard, but they do offer a shuttle service. The music always seems better than it really is at this venue. Its been around for a while, and is a definite must see and visit if you're ever in the LA area. more

The Hollywood Bowl is an amazing venue and awlways has an excellent lineup. its the perefct place to go with your friend, your sweetie, or even the entire fam. Bring your picnic because here's its ok to pack in food. Parking is the only caveat, so either carpool or try one of their great park and rides. more

I went to a concert here last night for the first time. This is a beautiful venue, and the sound quality is fantastic. The staff was professional and courteous, and the seating area and grounds were very clean. The bathrooms were just ok; they could use some updating. Concessions are expensive, but not more than other concert arenas. Parking is a mess here, but they offer several park-n-ride lots from different areas. I tried this service last night from Pasadena, and it was a great experience. It's only $5 round trip, you get in and out very quickly, don't have to pay to park, and the buses are clean. I will definitely use that service again. more

The Hollywood Bowl is very cool. The sound is fantastic, and they usually have a type of music for everyone each week. The parking, however, will make you want to go to sleep forever. If you’re handicapped, don’t bet on finding someone to help you out. The traffic in front, adjacent to the 101 entrance, makes for a huge gridlock wreck. But once you’re in, it’s perfect! I saw Arcade Fire there and loved them. more

The Hollywood Bowl is the place to go locally to listen to live music in an outdoor setting. There are different sections of the amphitheare: the box suites and arc cement seats which we may need to bring a cushion. Many patrons of the bowl bring picnic dinners to the bowl as they listen to the music. The whole setting is pretty cool especially in the evenings during the summer. This is a totally cool date night place. There is parking available as you drive into the bowl. I would recommend highly. more

Hollywood Bowl is a Los Angeles landmark where you can relax and enjoy a nice symphony or concert under the stars. Almost every night during the summer they have different kinds of performances to entertain you. The last time we went there was to see Cher's final farewell concert. We also always go there for one of their shows with fireworks. When the event is over, don't expect to leave early since they use a stack parking system. Your wait can be anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour before you are able to get your car out. more

The Hollywood Bowl has concerts and live music on certain nights. During the summer nights they have live jazz and classical bands playing music. The stadium is well made in the sense that you can hear the music perfectly fine. Parking is the hard part of coming to the Hollywood Bowl, with many places forcing you to cram into a parking lot, where you have to wait for everyone else to leave before you can. more

The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles is a great venue. They hold concerts for all music such as classical and jazz. They also have other events going on there too. It is a large area and seats thousands of people. Parking is frustrating and hard to find but there is street parking but you have to watch out so that you don't get a ticket. Hollywood Bowl is great because at most concerts, you can bring your own wine and food and blankets. It's a good place to go to with your significant other or family. more

I was invited by my daughter's then fifth grade teacher to chaperone a field trip to the hollywood bowl to listen to an orchestra play. I gladly accepted and made sure not to make a fool of myself in front of my daughter. The Hollywood Bowl was quite lovely and the sound was just perfect. The orchestra that was playing did not at all sound pitchy and was quite easy to hear even amongst the chatter of 30 or so fifth graders. The restrooms were also quite easy to find afterwards and the grounds seemed quite neat. If a band I liked decided to perform here I would most definitely come. How's about that? more

This is one of the true highlights for living in southern california. The Hollywood Bowl offers concert and music series every summer. Tickets are inexpensive if you don't mind sitting a little further away. Most people bring picnic baskets with them and dine before the concert, or you can eat while you watch or during intermission. They also sell food if you like. Parking is a horrible mess due to the stack parking method they employ. There are also lots surrounding the bowl as well. If you truly want to save some bucks on parking, there are several ride and park places. You can look them up on the website www.hollywoodbowl.org more

The Hollywood Bowl is a great place to experience LA at its best. Each summer series offers up an eclectic mix of classical, pop, jazz, opera, and world music. And this is music for the masses. While the box seats in front will cost you a ton of dough, the cheap seats in the back can cost as little as $1. You get cheapskates treating their wives to a beautiful picnic dinner and performance, along with the city's powerful elite dining up front. Parking is a crazy mess. But I like the long walk from the parking lot up to the Bowl. You walk past the sausage vendors on the sidewalk and the jazz guy playing in the tunnel. Then you mill around with the huge crowd eating their picnic dinners waiting for the show. During the summer the show begins just before the sun sets, providing the most romantic crowded space in LA. And as night falls, you're treated to the Bowl's perfect acoustics giving the cheapos in the back the same powerful sound as the fat cats in the front row. more

The Hollywood Bowl is one of the best places in Los Angeles to listen to live music. Where else can you bring a bottle of wine and picnic meal, sit under the stars and listen to world class music. Concerts range from classical (Hollywood Bowl Orchestra) to jazz to rock. Give yourself plenty of time as parking is often off site and requires a bit of a hike. Get on their mailing list so that you have first dibs on good seats. more